BBC1 unveils autumn comedy lineup

BBC1 unveils autumn comedy lineup

Tuesday 23 May 2006 07.24 EDT
First published on Tuesday 23 May 2006 07.24 EDT

BBC1 controller Peter Fincham has unveiled details of five new comedy dramas to air this autumn, with new projects from Lenny Henry and Phoenix Nights' Dave Spikey among others.

Earlier this year, Mr Fincham unveiled a raft of new comedies including new series from Jennifer Saunders and Ronni Ancona.

The new push features five hour-long single pieces, which are all made by independent production companies, as part of Mr Fincham's drive to improve comedy on the channel - a genre highlighted by the director general, Mark Thompson, as increasingly important for the broadcaster.

Magnolia, written by Spikey, is described as a "warm and slightly eccentric" comedy about a group of painters and decorators trying to make a living. It is made by Manchester-based company Red and will be executive produced by Nicola Shindler, who made Queer as Folk, and Cheryl Taylor.

Aftersun, adapted by David Nicholls from his play of the same name, tells the story of two couples who meet on holiday - young lovers engaged after 72 hours and parents who are left alone for the first time in 20 years after their children have left home.

The piece, which was originally staged at the Old Vic theatre in London last June as one of a series of "24-hour plays", will be made by Tiger Aspect and executive produced for the BBC by Lucy Richer.

Angel Cake will feature a cake-maker whose life is turned upside down after baking a batch of buns which mould themselves into the image of the Virgin Mary.

Written by Keith Temple, who previously worked on Casualty, it is made by Who Wants to be a Millionaire? producer Celador and will be executive produced by Danielle Lux and Cheryl Taylor.

Slings and Arrows sees an "intellectually frustrated dry cleaner" played by Lenny Henry find love on an Open University English literature course. Made by Tiger Aspect, Henry will also executive produce the piece alongside Clive Tulloh and Lucy Lumsden.

Finally, Housekeeping is billed as a "darkly comic" study of suburban family life, told through the eyes of a househusband going through a divorce who has to turn his house into a brothel in order to keep hold of the property.

Written by Hustle's Tony Basgallop, the show will also be made by Red with Shindler, Tom Sherry and Julie Gadner executive producing.

Mr Fincham said: "Comedy and drama are two key ingredients to the mix on BBC1 and bringing them together in this series of standalone pieces provides us with a unique opportunity to bring some of the best talent in the business together.